Host a REEF Sanctioned Lionfish Derby!

Help fight the lionfish invasion by hosting a REEF Sanctioned Lionfish Derby. Lionfish derbies have been found to be effective tools in reducing lionfish populations in derby areas.  Sanctioned Derbies alone have removed over 12,600 lionfish! Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) has been organizing and conducting derbies since the first derby in the Bahamas in 2009. REEF aims to help others organize and conduct safe and effective derbies by offering a "REEF Sanctioned Lionfish Derby" program to provide tools, templates and promotion for derby organizers. Derbies that meet criteria found in successful derbies around the region will be recognized and promoted through this program.  

REEF Sanctioned Derby DetailsREEF Sanctioned Derby Application

2022 REEF Sanctioned Derbies

Julionfish, South Carolina Aquarium, July 1-28, 2022

 

Past REEF Sanctioned Lionfish Derbies

Miami Signature Shipwreck Derby

Organized to benefit the Miami Dade Reef Guard Association
Location: Monty's Sunset on South Beach
Date: November 22, 2019
Organizer Contact Info: Tyler Mahler, Adventure Charters - (305) 457-3519
Website: http://myadventurescuba.com/Miami_Shipwreck_Lionfish_derby.htm
Number of participants:
Number of lionfish caught:
Largest lionfish caught:
Smallest lionfish caught:

 

2019 Key West Lionfish Derby

This derby is organized to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Derby proceeds will benefit the History of Diving Museum.
Location, Turtle Kraals, Key West, FL
Date: Sunday, May 26 2019, 
Organizer Contact Info: Tyler Mahler, 305-457-3519, myadventurescuba@aol.com
Website: visit www.myadventurescuba.com/dive_plans.htm
Number of participants:
Number of lionfish caught:
Largest lionfish caught:
Smallest lionfish caught: 
 

Boynton Beach Rock the Marina & Lionfish Derby 

Sip a cocktail while enjoying “feel good reggae” music from South Florida’s most popular band, Spred the Dub, learn how to prep and cook lionfish, enjoy complimentary lionfish tastings, and learn about marine conservation and sustainability efforts that are taking place throughout the county.
Location: Boynton Harbor Marina
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2019 
Organizer Contact Info: Mercedes Coppin, 561-600-9097, coppinm@bbfl.us
Website: www.catchboynton.com for registration and complete details.
Number of participants: 48 
Number of lionfish caught: 535 lionfish
Largest lionfish caught: 394 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: n/a
 

Captain Don's Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari

Location: Indian River Veteran's Memorial Park
Date: Sunday, June 9, 2019 
Website: www.treasurecoastlionfishsafari.com for registration and complete details.
Organizer Contact Info: Capt. Dyana Boyd Voss, 772-528-0677 mcii@MarineCleanupInitiativeInc.org
Number of participants: 21
Number of lionfish caught: 354
Largest lionfish caught: 407 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 128 mm
 
2018 Bermuda Fall Lionfish Derby
Name of sponsoring organization: Guardians of the Reef 
Derby date: Friday, November 9th through Monday, November 12th 
Derby location: Bermuda
Website: www.guardiansofthereef.org 
Number of participants: 10
Number of lionfish caught: 103
 

Captain Don's Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari

Location:  Riverwalk, Fort Pierce, Florida
Date:  June 8-10, 2018
Contact:  Dyana Voss
Number of Participants: 20
Number of Lionfish Caught: 357
Largest Lionfish Caught: 410
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 122

 

Barbados Lionfish Derby

Location:  Cruising Club/The Beach Shack
Date:  January 28th, 2018
Contact:  Scott Clark
Number of Participants: 
Number of Lionfish Caught: 
Largest Lionfish Caught: 
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 
 

4earth Lionfish Derby

Location:  Miami Seaquarium - 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Date:  April 21nd, 2018
Contact:  Analisa Duran
Website: N/A
Number of Participants: 23
Number of Lionfish Caught: 7
Largest Lionfish Caught: 292 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 216 mm
 

Sebastian Lionfish Fest

Location:  Captain Hiram's
Date:  May 19th-21st, 2017
Contact:  Kendra Cope
Number of Participants: 16
Number of Lionfish Caught: 278
Largest Lionfish Caught: 394 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 111 mm
 

4earth Lionfish Derby

Location:  Miami Seaquarium - 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Date:  April 22nd, 2017
Contact:  Analisa Duran
Number of Participants: 14
Number of Lionfish Caught: 15
Largest Lionfish Caught: 262 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 140 mm

 

Barbados Lionfish Derby

 
Location: Pirates Cove, Brownes Beach, Bridgetown
Date: Novermber 13th, 2016
Contact: Scott Clarke
Number of Participants: 39 
Number of Lionfish Caught: 1,003 
Largest Lionfish Caught: 432 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 118 mm
 
 

 Bermuda Fall Lionfish Safari

Location:  Bermuda
Date:  November 11th-13th, 2016
Contact:  Weldon Wade
Number of Participants: 18
Number of Lionfish Caught: 185
Largest Lionfish Caught: 434 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 138 mm
 
 

1st Annual TCRF/DECR Grand Turk/South Caicos Lionfish Derby

Location:  The Library, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands
Date:  November 5th, 2016
Contact:  Don Stark
Website: www.tcreef.org
Number of Participants: 22
Number of Lionfish Caught: 149
Largest Lionfish Caught: 398 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 95 mm

 

1st Annual TCRF/DECR Providenciales Lionfish Derby

Location:  Turtle Cove Marina, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Date:  October 29th, 2016
Contact:  Don Stark
Website: www.tcreef.org
Number of Participants: 20
Number of Lionfish Caught: 78
Largest Lionfish Caught: 390 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 115 mm
 
 

Eagle Scout Lionfish Derby

 
Location:  Wakulla Diving Center, Panacea, FL
Date: September 23rd-24th, 2016
Contact: Michael Edgar
Number of Participants: 
Number of Lionfish Caught: 
Largest Lionfish Caught: 
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 
 

Gold Coast Lionfish Derby

Location:  Waterstone Resort and Marina. 999 Camino Real Boca Raton FL 33431
Date:  June 18th, 2016
Contact:  Sean Meadows (561-368-2155)
Number of Participants: 32
Number of Lionfish Caught: 655
Largest Lionfish Caught: 434 mm
Smallest Lionfish Caught: 82 mm

 

Sebastian Lionfish Fest

Location:  Captain Hiram's 1606 Indian River Dr, Sebastian, FL 32958
Date:  May 14th, 2016
Contact: Kendra Cope
Number of participants: 16
Number of lionfish caught: 31
Largest lionfish caught: 384 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 26 mm
 
 

5th Annual Mayreau Regatta Lionfish Derby

Location:  Saline Bay, Mayreau, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Date:  Friday, April 29th 2016
Contact:  Nancy Saul-Demers
Number of participants: 15
Number of lionfish caught: 208
Largest lionfish caught: 415 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 113 mm
 

Barbados International Lionfish Derby

Location: Carlisle Bay and Speightstown, Barbados
Date: December 5-6, 2015
Contact: Scott Clarke
Email: barbadoslionfishweek2015@outlook.com
Website: www.barbadoslionfishderby.com
Number of participants: 50
Number of lionfish caught: 807
Largest lionfish caught: 440 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 100 mm
 

SFAEP Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center Lionfish Tournament

Location: John Lloyd State Park, Dania Beach, Florida
Date: September 26, 2015
Contact: Erik Neugaard
Email:eneugaard@coastalsystemsint.com
Website:https://eventbrite.com/event/16195404892
Number of participants: 16
Number of lionfish caught: 166
Largest lionfish caught: 411 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 60 mm
 

St. Lucia Divers Association

Location: West Coast of St. Lucia
Date: September 27, 2015
Contact: Donovan Brown
Email:  donovanbx@gmail.com
Number of participants: 26
Number of lionfish caught: 693
Largest lionfish caught: 420 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 70 mm
 

Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari

Location: Fort Pierce Marina, Fort Pierce, Florida
Date: September 12, 2015
Contact: Bob Hickerson
Email:  thefrapper001@gmail.com
Website: www.TreasureCoastLionfishSafari.com
Number of participants: 11
Number of lionfish caught: 197
Largest lionfish caught: 415 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 102 mm
 

3rd Annual Jacksonville Lionfish Derby

Location:  Jacksonville Beach Marina Jacksonville, FL
Date:  August 8th, 2015
Contact:  Walt Quinn
Number of participants: 29
Number of lionfish caught: 2,583
Largest lionfish caught: 446 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 43 mm
 

The Woody Foundation 5th Annual Lionfish Bash

Location: Biscayne Bay Yacht Club 2540 South Bayshore Dr. Miami, FL
Date:  July 25th, 2015
Contact: Lucy Foerster
 

Gold Coast Lionfish Derby



Location: Waterstone Resort and Marina, 999 Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Date: July 24-25, 2015
Contact: Sean Meadows
Email:worldofscubafl@gmail.com
Website:http://world-of-scuba.com/goldcoastlionfishderby.com
Number of participants: 18
Number of lionfish caught: 379
Largest lionfish caught: 420 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 93 mm

Sarasota Lionfish Derby


Location: Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
Date: July 11-12 (Alternate Dates: August 1-2)
Contact: Allie ElHage
Email:ZooKeeperLCU@gmail.com

Number of participants: 24
Number of lionfish caught: 456
Largest lionfish caught: 418 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 122 mm
 

Andrew "Red" Harris Foundation Lionfish Derby

 
Location: Harbourside Place, 200 North US Highway One, Jupiter, FL.
Date: July 11, 2015
Contact: Piper/Bailey Goebel
Email: dan@Nativespearit.com
Website: http://andrewredharrisfoundation.org/
Number of participants: 26
Number of lionfish caught: 119
Largest lionfish caught: 406 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 148 mm
 

MCAC Lionfish Round-Up

 
Location:  Jupiter Pointe Club & Marina
Date:  May 29-30, 2015
Contact: Jessica Garland
Number of participants: 57
Number of lionfish caught: 579
Largest lionfish caught: 444.5 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 108 mm
 

Treasure Coast Lionfish Safari



Location: Fort Pierce City Marina, FL
Date: May 16-17, 2015
Contact: Bob Hickerson
Email:thefrapper001@gmail.com
Website:http://www.treasurecoastlionfishsafari.com/

Richard Warren Rydell Memorial Lionfish Derby



Location: Crandon Park Marina, Key Biscayne
Date: May 16, 2015
Contact: Erik Neugaard
Email:erik.neugaard@rsandh.com
Website:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/richard-warren-rydell-memorial-lionfish-derby-tickets-16194176217

Reef Builders Lionfish Round-Up



Location: Jupiter Pointe Bar and Grill, Jupiter, FL
Date: May 30, 2015
Contact: Jessica Garland
Email:info@mcacreefs.org
Website:http://www.mclionfish.com/

4th Annual Mayreau Regatta Lionfish Derby

Location: Saline Bay, Mayreau, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Date: May 1, 2015
Contact: Nancy Saul-Demers
Email: nancyandlorne@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/mayreau.regatta

 

Sarasota Derby

Location: Sarsota, FL
Date: October 24-26 , 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website: SarasotaLionfishDerby.com
Contact: Allie ElHage
Email: zookeeperlcu@gmail.com
Number of participants: 4
Number of lionfish caught: 251
Largest lionfish caught: 374 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 146 mm

First CORE Annual St. Croix Lionfish Derby

Location: Christiansted, St. Croix
Date: November 14-15, 2014
Website: http://www.corevi.org/
Contact: Nadija Packauskas and Wess Tester
Email: stxoutreach@corevi.org
Number of lionfish caught: 651
Largest lionfish caught: 420 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 53 mm

 

eBoat Listings Lionfish Derby

Location: Harvey Oyer Park, Boynton Beach, FL
Date: October 16-18, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website:http://blog.eboatlistings.com/lionfish-tournament/
Contact: Jessica Anderson
Email: jessica@eBoatListings.com
Number of participants: 36
Number of lionfish caught: 406
Largest lionfish caught: 389 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 90 mm

DEEP 2014 Roatan Lionfish Derby

Location: Roatan, Honduras
Date: October 20-22, 2014
Website: www.caredeeply.org
Contact: Kelli Shaw
Email: kelli@caredeeply.org
***Waiting on results

Coastal Carolina Derby 

Location: Dockside Bar and Grill, Wilmington, NC
Date: September 20-21, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website: http://cclionfishderby.wix.com/cclionfishderby
Contact: Dane Young
Email: cclionfishderby@yahoo.com
***waiting on results

Jacksonville Derby 

Location: Beach Marine, Jacksonville Beach, FL
Date: August 8-9, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-northeast-florida-lionfish-rodeo-tickets-11810301931
Contact: Walt Quinn
Email: waltquinn@comcast.net
Number of participants: 26
Number of lionfish caught: 1102
Largest lionfish caught: 448 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 37 mm

Gold Coast Lionfish Derby

Location: Boca Raton, FL
Date: July 25-26, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Contact: Sean Meadows
Email: worldofscubafl@gmail.com
Number of participants: 45
Number of lionfish caught: 551
Largest lionfish caught: 423 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 106 mm

Reef Builders Lionfish Round-Up

Location: The Twisted Tuna, Port Salerno, FL
Date: July 12, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website: www.mcacreefs.org and www.mclionfish.com
Contact: MCAC Artificial Reef Fund, Inc.
Email: info@mcacreefs.org
***waiting on results

Third Annual Hairoun Beer Mayreau Regatta Lionfish Derby

Location: Saline Bay, Mayreau, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Date: May 1, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Contact: Nancy Saul-Demers (784-458-8006)
Email: nancyandlorne@gmail.com
Website: www.facebook.com/mayreau.regatta
Number of participants: 25
Number of lionfish caught: 212
Largest lionfish caught: 376 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 78 mm

Gulf Coast Lionfish Roundup Derby

Location: Flora Bama Yacht Club (17350 Peridido Key Dr., Pensacola, FL 32507)
Date: April 30-May 4, 2014 (2.5 days of fishing)
Website: www.gulfcoastlionfish.com
Contact: Andy Ross (850-529-2475)
Email: sharkman58@gmail.com
Number of participants: 23
Number of lionfish caught: 1914
Largest lionfish caught: 392 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 66 mm

Treasure Coast Derby

Location: Fort Pierce City Marina (1 Avenue A, Ft Pierce, FL)
Date: June 6-7, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Website: Treasurecoastlionfishsafari.com
Contact: Bob Hickerson
Email: thefrapper001@gmail.com
Number of participants: 24
Number of lionfish caught: 581
Largest lionfish caught: 399 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 97 mm

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Fisherman's Day Lionfish Derby


Location: Mainland St. Vincent
Date: June 9, 2014 (1 day of fishing)
Contact email: fishdiv@vincysurf.com
Number of participants: 36
Number of lionfish caught: 989
Largest lionfish caught: 410 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 33 mm

 

Curacao Lionfish Derby


Location: Curacao
Date: March 30&31, 2013 
Contact email:
Number of participants: 36
Number of lionfish caught: 2386
Largest lionfish caught: 420 mm
Smallest lionfish caught: 66 mm